Tattered Past

Friday, August 27, 2010

It has been an unusual day. Cloudy and cooler, kind of depressing. I always run errands on Friday...

post office, bank, etc.

As I was leaving the post office I saw a sign for an estate sale and went around the block to see what it was all about. The neighborhood is from the late seventies and nice homes. The sale was in the whole house which was for sale. I roamed around and did find a few things but what I found the most was a wish that I had known the lady who lived there.

There were lots of serving dishes and lovely candles and other things that showed the lady loved to entertain. There was a book on writing tips, lots of classics and poetry by Billy Collins. There were some outside toys that seemed to belong to a young grandchild or two. She had lovely linens, silver, and baskets. I found a calligraphy set, a Barbara Streisand cd, some books, and a basket. As I was leaving some people were loading up a table and chairs and the apparent relative commented that there had been many Thanksgiving dinners at that table. What a memory.

I don't usually go to estate sales. They seem sad and voyeuristic. I felt that way today but at the same time I feel like I have a memory of a person I never knew. A strange feeling. I don't know this lady's name but I will think of her every time I use the basket or read a poem. The woman who shared a lot of my interests.

On a lighter note...before I went to Washington I took part in a swap with the Remains of the Day group. We were each to send 11 baggies/packets of ephemera and items to be used in ROD style journals. Mine arrived today. What fun.

I spread everything out on the floor and started sorting through every item. So many wonderful things and packaged in fun ways. Isn't this a wonderful mass of items? There was even a flier from Graceland. Woohoo. I am an Elvis fan from way back. There are old letters, fabric flowers, stickers, sewn goodies, buttons, photos and post cards. Every item is a treasure. Thank you, ROD friends.

7 comments:

that was a fun swap! i got my goodies the other day, too! i feel the same way about going to estate sales. it's kind of a strange feeling, like going through someone's memories. i guess someone will do the same with our stuff one day.

What a wonderful writer you are. Thanks so much for sharing your adventures. I've never been to an estate sale. Does sound sad and wonderful at the same time. Love how you connected with the lady of the house, so beautiful. ROD packet wonderful. Looking forward to seeing what you do with the goodies.

i enjoyed old stuff and love love love repurposing them specially on journals and cigar boxesif you like swaps maybe you may enjoy round robins too, i organized them every year, if you are interested, please let me know

Hi Rita, came back to read through this post as didnt have time last time. It seems to me that you found something special at the estate sale... A connection and thought for the lady who owned the items ... that in itself was worth going for. Also love your beautiful ephemera goodies !!! Wow they will be fun to play withhugs June xxxxxxx

Rita, I love how you inspire! Estate sales can be sad, but I always feel that I'm rescuing someone's memories. Today I got an old hymnal with a note to "Dear Dad" from "Vicki," telling him why she bought the book for him. At first I felt sad, but then my mood changed when I realized that Vicki's note will go into a ROD journal & continue the journey! Don't you just love that about our journals?Glisteninthesunshine.blogspot.com

Remember the Children of the Holocaust

Kreativ Blogger Award

A to Z Challenge - 2014

National Novel Writers Month

About Me

A few things I enjoy:
Photography, mixed media art, researching history, writing, history of the Old West, genealogy, being with friends, Tombstone history, discovering myself, reading, and teaching what I have learned about these things.
Things I love:
My family, my home, and my dog.